Last.



H. F. LOEWER.

LAST;

' AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA 211.23, 190 9. 941,373. Patented Nov. 30, 1909.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR:

nanny F. nonwnn, or ROCHESTER, new YORK.

LAST.

eaters.

Specification of Letters Patent.

' Patented Nov. 39, 1909.

Application filed April 23, 1909. Serial No. 491,779.

To all whom it. may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY F. Lonwnn, a citizen of the United States, andresident of Rochester, in the county of, Monroe and State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Lasts, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to lasts, and has for its object the productionof a simple and eflicient latch for lasts ofthe hinged type, and whichis automatic in its latching action.

In the drawings F igure 1 isa longitudinal vertical section through alast embodying this invention, in the latched position; Fig. 2 is asimilar view of the same, but in the unlatched position; and Fig. 3 is aperspective view of the latch and its support.

The last has a fore-part l, on which is a tilting instep block 2. Thelatter is m0vable toward and from said fore-part, and has a verticalgroove 2 The heel part 3 has a vertical slotted plate 4 fastened in itby pins 5 and 6, and said plate is pivoted in the fore part 1 on a pin 7that extends through it. The plate extends into the groove 2 and has anabutment 'piece 4*, that is hook-shaped in the present embodiment ofthis invention.

In the instep block 2 is a pinS, that passes across the groove 2 andrests upon the curved upper edge of the plate 4. Said pin constitutes anabutment for the latch, which consists in the present form of theinvention, of an L-shaped lever or latch 9. is pivoted at 10 in theplate 4 (Fig. 3), and is urged forwardly by the pressure of a coiledspring 11 that is socketed in the heel part 8. In this instance of theinvention the latch 9 is in the same plane as the plate 4. The front endof the latch 9 has an oblique face 12 that abuts against the pin 8, andthe upper end of said latch has a flat fingerpiece 13 for operating it.The face 12 abuts against a corresponding stop face of the abutmentpiece 4 When the last is extended for use, which is accomplished byswinging the heel part 3 downward about the pivot 7, the spring 11 turnsthe latch 9 upon its pivotal point 10 and forces its end and the face'12against and behind the pin '8 and holds the pin between the latch andthe abutment piece 4*. The heel part then cannot be swung upward, as thelower arm of the latch 9 is in line Said lever with the pin 8 and formsa strut between said pin and the heel part.

To unlatch the last, the latch 9 is swung by pulling-the finger-piece 13toward the heel part against the action of the spring 11. This raisesthe lower arm of said lever and the face 12 out of engagement with thepin 8 and permits the heel part to be swung upward. When this occurs,the pin 8 moves along the lower edge 14 of the latch 9, which then actsas a cam to force said pin downward (Fig. 2). The instep block 2 is thusdrawn close upon the fore part 1, and the last may be readily removedfrom the shoe.

When the heel part is again lowered, the pin 8 rides up on the curvededge 15 of the plate 4, and the instep block 2 is thus forced outwardly.At the same time the latch 9 is forced behind the said pin by the actionof the spring 11, and the last is automatically locked in the extendedor lasting position.

What I claim is 1. In a last, a heel block and a fore part hingedtogether, the fore part having a tilting instep block thereon providedwith a vertical groove, a vertical plate attached to the heel block andhaving a portion extending into said groove, a pin passing trans verselyacross said instep block, and a latch pivoted on said plate for engagingsaid pin and holding the last in the'lasting position.

2. In a last, a heel block and a fore part hinged together, the forepart having a tilting instep block thereon provided with a verticalgroove, a vertical plate attached to the heel block and having a portionextending into said groove and an abutment piece, a pin passingtransversely across said instep block, and a latch pivoted on said platefor engaging said pin and holding it against the abutment piece when thelast is in the lasting position.

3. In a last, a heel block and a fore part hinged together, the forepart having a tilting instep block thereon provided with a verticalgroove, a vertical plate attached to the heel block and having a portionextending into said groove and a hooked abutment piece, a pin passingtransversely across said instep block, and a latch pivoted on said platefor engaging said pin and holding it in the hooked abutment piece whenthe last is in the lasting position.

4. In a last, a heel block and a fore part hinged together, the forepart having a tilting instep block thereon provided with a the heelblock and having a portion extending into said groove and a hookedabutment piece, a pin passing transversely across said instep block andover said plate, and a latch pivoted on said plate for operating theinstep block and for engaging the pin and holding it in the hookedabutment piece when the last is in the lasting position.

HENRY F. L( E YER.

Vitnesses D. GURNEE, L. THON.

